Infographic showing a four-step local framework for making a housing decision using sold data, payment validation, active inventory, and stress testing for a margin of safety.

Water submetering is a system that measures individual water consumption within multi-unit properties, including apartments, condos, multi-family housing, and mixed-use spaces. It offers substantial benefits to property managers and residents: fair, per-unit billing; actionable data to guide management, simplified maintenance and reductions in overall water consumption from 15% to 30% or even more. In addition, many such solutions offer advanced capabilities such as leak detection.

With rising water costs and increasing regulatory burdens - particularly in water-conscious states like Utah, where conservation has become a growing priority—the need to manage water effectively has never been higher. Utah is one of the driest states in the U.S., and according to the Utah Division of Water Resources, the state has historically ranked among the highest in per capita water use, averaging around 240 gallons per person per day. As the demand for water submetering grows and more providers enter the market, choosing the right one is critical to ensure an accurate, compliant, and reliable solution that works long term. To help you make the right decision, we’ve evaluated three leading providers based on key factors such as technology, scalability, and long-term reliability.

Mainlink

Mainlink is a water submetering solutions provider focused on modern, scalable infrastructure. It provides an all-in-one solution from the water meter to the network, a data management platform, and mobile apps for seamless data reading and collection. This type of end-to-end solution is particularly relevant for fast-growing housing markets like those seen across Utah.

Mainlink’s Key Strengths

  • Technology & Infrastructure:
    Mainlink offers an advanced metering system designed for accurate and real-time data capture. With no moving parts and a 16-year battery life, ultrasonic meters are maintenance-free. Installation is fast — typically 15 to 30 minutes — and utilizes a mobile app to help ensure installation and connection to the data management platform were successful. 
  • Integration:
    The solution works well with billing software and other 3rd party platforms, allowing easy integration and flexible deployments.
  • Data Transparency:
    Mainlink’s solution offers clear usage insights for both property managers and residents. Residents can track their personal water consumption through a mobile phone app, while property managers can access hourly and daily usage data on the platform, allowing both types of users to easily monitor relevant trends.  
  • Scalability:
    The solution is suitable for small residential deployments as well as large multi-unit developments, including expanding residential communities in regions like Utah, as it is capable of managing hundreds of thousands of meters at a time.
  • Flexibility:
    Mainlink’s submetering solution is vendor-agnostic and does not lock users into any particular service provider or ecosystem, allowing for more flexible deployments based on individual operational needs. The solution is suitable for new buildings and retrofit. 

Mainlink offers a robust, balanced approach to submetering, with a focus on technology, scalability, integration, and long-term operational efficiency. Based on these metrics, Mainlink stands out as the most well-rounded choice for homeowners and property managers looking to implement modern, forward-thinking submetering solutions.

Truety (QMC)

Truety focuses on delivering reliable submetering solutions and data collection infrastructure, while maintaining independence from billing services and providers. Its approach enables accurate measurement and seamless integration with third-party billing and account management systems, giving property managers flexibility in how they manage resident billing and cost recovery—an important factor in regulated and rapidly developing housing markets like Utah.

Truety’s Key Strengths

  • Multi-Utility Support:
    QMC’s broader metering ecosystem includes solutions for electricity, thermal, and gas metering, giving property managers a single provider for multi-utility measurements.
  • Technology & Infrastructure:
    Utility-grade encoded hardware allows secure data collection in multi-unit environments.
  • Integration:
    Meter data is managed through a web-based system that can integrate with property management or billing software.
  • Flexibility:
    This solution is designed to support both new installations and retrofits, offering flexibility across a range of multi-family or multi-use contexts.
  • Customer Support Infrastructure:
    Truety offers established tenant communication processes as part of its service, simplifying tenant communication and issue resolution.

Truety offers a combined hardware and data management platform designed for accurate utility measurement and streamlined data collection. It suits property managers looking for reliable submetering solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing billing and property management systems.

NextCentury

NextCentury is a US-based manufacturer developing technology-driven metering solutions with a focus on wireless submetering equipment and digital data platforms in multifamily and commercial properties. IoT-ready, its devices are commonly integrated into existing billing systems.

Next Meters Key Strengths

  • Technology & Infrastructure:
    Next Meters offers ultrasonic and multi-jet water meters designed for long-term accuracy in multifamily and commercial environments, with an emphasis on durable, wireless devices.
  • Ease of Installation & Maintenance:
    Next Meters systems are designed with simplified installation in mind, especially compared with hardwired systems. 
  • Integration:
    The company’s products allow integration with other systems, such as property management solutions and utility billing software, with an API and reporting tools that allow centralized data access across multiple properties.
  • User-Friendly Platforms:
    Next Meter’s solutions offer easy-to-use dashboards for monitoring and reporting.

Next Meter is a practical choice for users prioritizing modern, wireless metering hardware and ease of use. 

How to Choose the Right Water Submetering Provider in Utah:

Selecting the right water submetering provider is the first step in implementing a submetering solution, and there are several key factors to consider before making a decision—especially in regions like Utah, where water conservation policies and infrastructure planning play a growing role in real estate development:

  1. Accuracy & Reliability:
    Long-term accuracy and reliability are the number one factor in choosing a submetering system, as these enable fair, accurate billing over long deployment timescales.
  2. Technology:
    Consider deployment scenarios carefully - do you need wireless or wired systems? Does the system integrate well with existing infrastructure? Choose a provider that meets your specific project needs.
  3. Scalability:
    Prioritize systems that can grow with your needs and property portfolio - failure to consider future growth at implementation can result in higher costs later on.
  4. Data Access & Transparency:
    Consider whether the system provides suitable reporting tools for managers and whether it can deliver relevant data to residents.
  5. Customer Support & Maintenance:
    It’s important to partner with effective and responsive providers with the right expertise. 
  6. Price:
    A lower upfront price may conceal poorer accuracy, unreliable devices, or other issues and inefficiencies that can lead to higher ongoing costs, making it important to consider price more holistically.

Final Thoughts On Selection

Choosing a submetering provider is easier when decisions are guided by clear criteria and specific operational needs. Each provider offers something different, whether it’s Truety’s experience and flexible, integration-ready approach, Next Meter’s tech-driven implementations, or Mainlink’s balanced approach of technology, scalability, and long-term reliability. Ultimately, the best provider is the one that meets specific operational needs in a balanced, practical manner - particularly in water-sensitive regions like Utah, where efficiency and sustainability are increasingly essential.